Chapter 6 Stages of Groups Different experts give different names and descriptions of group stages. I’ll give brief overviews of three different experts. All three are more alike than different but there are some differences in their perspectives. According to the Coreys (2010, pp. 107-108) there are five basic stages to groups. These stages overlap and at times, the group may revert to an earlier stage before progressing. Being aware of the stages gives the leader a valuable perspective and helps her predict problems. The five stages are the pre-group stage, the initial stage, the transition stage, the working stage and the final stage. The pre-group stage involves all the facets of forming a group, including creating a description for the group, enlisting possible participants, screening and selecting members and orienting the members. The initial stage provides orientation and exploration. Members may experience anxiety and insecurity about what will occur in the group meetings. They may test the limits as they attempt to figure out exactly what the boundaries are. It is important that the leader not squelch the conversation but allow the members to express themselves openly without being judged. In this stage, the members gradually develop the norms, explore their fears and expectations, identify their personal goals and determine if the group is safe. Trust begins to develop. In the transition stage the leader must assist the members in working on the concerns that they brought to the group. Members decide how much risk they should take and they explore any reluctance they experience in participating in the group. The working stage is productive. Mutuality and self-exploration increase and behavioral changes are made. Earlier themes of trust, conflict and reluctance to participate may be revisited. As deeper levels of trust are achieved, new conflicts may arise. Some groups never reach this stage but this doesn’t mean that the group was a failure. Benefits can still be realized. The final stage involves identifying what was learned and deciding how to incorporate this new learning into their lives. The group will spend time summarizing, pulling things together, and integrating and interpreting the experience. The group must deal with feelings of separation, address unfinished business, review the group experience, practice their behavioral changes, design action plans, prepare for coping with relapse (if this should occur) and build a supportive network. Jacobs, Masson & Harvill (2009, pp. 29-31) indicated that groups go through three stages - the beginning stage, the middle or working stage and the ending or closing stage. In the beginning stage the members introduce themselves and discuss such topics as purpose of the group, group process, rules, comfort levels and content of the group. Members may struggle with their comfort level and whether they can trust the group. This stage might last anywhere from a few minutes in the first ses ...

1. Chapter 6
Stages of Groups
Different experts give different names and descriptions of group
stages. I’ll give brief overviews of three different experts. All
three are more alike than different but there are some
differences in their perspectives.
According to the Coreys (2010, pp. 107-108) there are five
basic stages to groups. These stages overlap and at times, the
group may revert to an earlier stage before progressing. Being
aware of the stages gives the leader a valuable perspective and
helps her predict problems. The five stages are the pre-group
stage, the initial stage, the transition stage, the working stage
and the final stage. The pre-group stage involves all the facets
of forming a group, including creating a description for the
group, enlisting possible participants, screening and selecting
members and orienting the members. The initial stage provides
orientation and exploration. Members may experience anxiety
and insecurity about what will occur in the group meetings.
They may test the limits as they attempt to figure out exactly
what the boundaries are. It is important that the leader not
squelch the conversation but allow the members to express
themselves openly without being judged. In this stage, the
members gradually develop the norms, explore their fears and
expectations, identify their personal goals and determine if the
group is safe. Trust begins to develop. In the transition stage
the leader must assist the members in working on the concerns
that they brought to the group. Members decide how much risk
they should take and they explore any reluctance they
experience in participating in the group. The working stage is
productive. Mutuality and self-exploration increase and
behavioral changes are made. Earlier themes of trust, conflict
and reluctance to participate may be revisited. As deeper levels
of trust are achieved, new conflicts may arise. Some groups
never reach this stage but this doesn’t mean that the group was

2. a failure. Benefits can still be realized. The final stage involves
identifying what was learned and deciding how to incorporate
this new learning into their lives. The group will spend time
summarizing, pulling things together, and integrating and
interpreting the experience. The group must deal with feelings
of separation, address unfinished business, review the group
experience, practice their behavioral changes, design action
plans, prepare for coping with relapse (if this should occur) and
build a supportive network.
Jacobs, Masson & Harvill (2009, pp. 29-31) indicated that
groups go through three stages - the beginning stage, the middle
or working stage and the ending or closing stage. In the
beginning stage the members introduce themselves and discuss
such topics as purpose of the group, group process, rules,
comfort levels and content of the group. Members may struggle
with their comfort level and whether they can trust the group.
This stage might last anywhere from a few minutes in the first
session to the first couple of sessions. The leader needs to be
careful not to move the group too quickly or too slowly through
this stage. In the middle or working stage the group focuses on
its purpose. The group member completes tasks, engages in
personal sharing and works on her goal(s). The leader must pay
attention to how the members interact with each other and what
their attitudes are toward the group and toward the leader. In
the closing or ending stage, members share what they have
learned, how they have changed and how they plan to use what
they have learned and how they have changed in the future.
They say their good-byes and discuss what they are
experiencing as the group comes to an end. Most groups need
only one session for this.
Southern, Erford, Vernon & Davis-Gage (2010, pp. 12-13)
identified four stages of group work including the forming and
orienting stage, the transition stage, the working stage and the
termination stage. The forming and orienting stage can be an
anxiety producing experience for the members and the leader.

3. During the first couple of sessions, the leader assists the group
members in setting personal goals, orients the members to the
group goals, sets ground rules and encourages the members to
communicate and give feedback to one another. Gradually the
responsibility for group success and member success is
transferred to the group members. This is the transition stage.
This also can be anxiety producing for group members and the
leader. As the members take on more of the responsibility and
make progress toward their goals, the group enters the working
stage. Most of the sessions are spent in this stage. During this
stage, the leader must skillfully facilitate the group process,
empowering the members to accomplish their individual goals
as well as accomplish the group goals. As goals are
accomplished, the group moves toward the termination stage. In
this stage, the members evaluate the experience and assess the
accomplishment of individual and group goals. The members
also debrief, resolve unfinished business and process the
progress that was made. Groups may not progress from stage
one to stage two to stage three but rather at times the group may
take a spiraling path. The leader must be flexible and adapt to
these situations so that the members continue to make progress.
Questions to Ponder
1. Which of these three descriptions is most helpful to you and
why? 2. What stage would be most challenging to you as a
group member? As a leader? Why?